Ethiopia has considered itself a Christian country since the fourth century, and its Christian roots are sometimes traced back to the Ethiopian eunuch who met Philip on the road while reading the book of Isaiah (Acts 8:26-40). Today it is the only Christian-majority country in the Horn of Africa, surrounded by a “sea” of Islam.

A new believer is baptised in the river

Islam first came to Ethiopia in 615 AD when a small group of Muhammad’s early followers fled there to escape persecution in Mecca. Ethiopia was considered a place of safety, and numerous Muslims followed in this first hijra (migration), living peacefully among the Christians. This relationship changed in the succeeding centuries as Islam began to spread throughout Africa and developed a negative attitude to Christians.

In recent years Muslim extremism, especially Saudi Arabia-funded Wahhabism, has become a growing influence in Ethiopia, as Islamists from countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia come into the country to spread anti-Christian teaching and discourage local Muslims from having any contact with Christians. Additionally money from external Islamic sources is used to build mosques and Muslim schools even in remote villages.

In this context violence against Christians, especially in Muslimmajority areas, is increasing. In 2007 several churches and Christian homes were set on fire or bombed, and church leaders and other Christian full-time workers were attacked and severely beaten by Muslim extremists. In 2008 a Christian couple, both recent converts from Islam, were beaten during a meeting with Muslim leaders when they refused to deny Christ. Islamic radicals attacked two churches in the same village one Sunday, injuring 17 Christians and killing one.